Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-26

minutes was able 10 get up from the bed
OF mud into which he had fallen. But the
handsome brown horse did not move; he
lay among the weeds and stones with a
broken neck.
Stuart could not believe at first that the
animal was dead; II seemed too horrible
to be true. But all his efforts TO rouse
the poor creature proving futile, he sat
down, sick and white, upon the nearest
stone and shouted TO his companions for
help.
But his shouts were so faint that Il was
a long time before they were answered.
Then the boys came running mp, fright
ened at his long absence, but utterly un-
prepared for the dreadful news Stuart had
to tell them. They were terribly shocked
and gathered about the dead horse, utter
ing many expressions of dismay and
sorrow.
81 don't know how shall ever tell old
Simon" groaned Stuart "Boys, he'll
just about kill me.
''Tell himm exclaimed Tom Halpine,
you're surely not going to be such a fooll
What's the use of telling himY Wen take
away the bridge, and the old fellow will
never know but that the horse jumped
the fence and fell over here by himself
at wouldn't be right TO let him think
that" returned Stuart "No, I've got to
tell. z"
"And bring all the rest of us into the
muss, too, suppose, y said Ben Hopper.
mo; I'll promise not TO mention any of
you. There's no need of it that l can
see.h
"And can't see that there is anything
to be gained by telling Pieffer, " said Luke.
at won't bring the horse TO life again.
What's the use of being such a saint,
Stuart9n
81 don't pretend to be a saint" an
swered Stuart, "but I'm net coward. !
shall tell Pieffer If he kills me the next
minute. It's oil | can do"
so, you'll think better of II" said Luke,
as he removed The rope bride from the
neck of the dead horse "a nights sleep
will cool you Off. y
But the night brought no sleep to Stu.
art, so tormented was he by thoughts Of
the beautiful brown horse lying dead
among the weeds ard stones below the
bridge and when morning came it found
his resolution unchanged. He was, as he
had said, no coward, and he intended to
confess what he had done irrespective Of
the consequences.
That Mr. Pieffer would be very severe,
he did not doubt for a moment. Perhaps
the old man would give him terrible
thrashing or put him in jail He was sure
to mete out q punishment equal to the
offense, and Stuart knew the offense was
very great.
He looked so white and haggard when
he came down stairs at o'clock that his
mother uttered an exclamation of alarm
you're sick, Stuart, she said; ''you car
go straight back to bed. I'll attend to the
cow
But Stuart shook his head and went out
to the stable to attend to the cow himself
He had not told his mother about his mis-
fortune, for he did not want to worry her
1t would be time enough to tell her wheI
he had seen Mr.. Pieffer.
That she might not suspect that some
thing had occurred to trouble him, he tried
to eat his usual allowance of griddle cakes
OF breakfast, but every mouthful seemed
to choke him, and he had to give up thu
attempt in despair.
AS soon as he rose from the table he pu
on his hat and went out, despite hi
mothers prophecy that the sun would
make him feel worse, and turned his step
ut once In the direction of Mr.. Pieffer'i
beautiful suburban residence.
He had prepared little speech will
which he intended to begin his confession
but every word of it fled from his minC
when he entered Mr. Pieffer's grounds an(
saw the old gentleman standing only hal
dozen yards away, an angry look on hi
face, ana his eyes glaring at young negr'
who stood before him, looking sullen ant
defiant
"You needn't deny it, sir,' were thu
first words Stuart heard. II wouldn'
believe you on oath. You're the dulles
fellow | ever had about my stables, but
did think you had sense enough to put tn
bars up when you turned valuable hors
like that out to pasture. You're dis
charged, and you needn't ask for a recon
mendation, for won't give itp'
With heart that seemed like luml
of lead in his breast, and hesitating foot
steps, Stuart approached the angry pair.
"Mr. Pieffer," he said in low, shaker
voice, 81 want to speak to you, sir"
''Well, speak, and be quick about it,
was the rough rejoinder. "You wan
work, suppose, and big wages, Yo1
may as well leave; haven't any work TO
YOU"
mo, sir; / don't want work. STAN
mered poor Stuart. 81 want to tell yo,
that took your horse out of the pastur
-and-it got frightened and fell over tn
bridge"
For moment, 1t seemed much lorge
to Stuart in his agony of suspense, the oil
gentleman stared at him in utter silence
his face fairly purple with rage.
"You-you young reprobatel" he eS
claimed at last, "You ought to be shotl
''Yes, sir, know it," answered Stuart
81 was never so sorry for anything in al
my life as l am for this. But we onl
wanted to have little fun and neve
thought of hurting the horse"
''You were not alone, thenF said MI
Pieffer.
''No, SIR"
"Who were the othersY"
There's no use in telling that, sir, an
swered Stuart, true to the promise of sc
crecy he had Elade. 81 was the one VIII
was on the horse when he fell over th
bridge, and it was all my fault. l ough
not to have tried to cross the bridge.
might have known he would be fright
ened at that old tree"
The angry flush left Mr.. Pieffer's face
and q very peculiar look came into hi
keen gray eyes.